Stochastic Ionization of Surface-State Electrons

Abstract

A classical analysis is presented of the microwave perturbation of electrons bound to the surface of liquid helium by their image charge. Since the classical dynamics can exhibit chaotic behavior, this one-dimensional quantum system provides a novel system for the experimental investigation of quantum stochasticity. Analytic estimates for the classical thresholds and rates for stochastic excitation and ionization are determined as functions of microwave field amplitude and frequency. The frequencies and powers required to study stochasticity in the quantum regime are readily available.